EIGHT LESSONS 




IN 



AUCTION BRIDGE 




By 

HELEN CARROL CARNEY 





C 35" 
Copy** 



Copyrighted 1921, by 

HELEN CARROL CARNEY* 



All Rights Reserved 



PRINTED BY 

Escanaba Morning Press 
Escanaba, Mich. 

©CH 660133 



Preface 

These Auction rules were arranged 
for use in my Auction classes, but 
such a demand has arisen for them 
that I have put them in this form, 
hoping that other Auction students 
may find them helpful. Mr. Sidney 
S. Lenz' article is well worth con- 
sideration, coming as it does from 
the president of the American 
Whist League, editor of Whist 
Review and our foremost Whist 
and Auction expert. It will 
be of interest to all card 
players who wish to acquire concen- 
tration and develop a card memory. 
I am deeply indebted to Mr. Lenz 
and to Airs. Florence Linder AIcColl, 
also an acknowledged authority on 
Auction Bridge methods for their as- 
sistance in bringing these rules up to 
present day standards. 



Auction Bridge 



LESSON NO. 1 

Before one can play a good game of Auction, it is es- 
sential that they have a knowledge of card valuation and 
correct bidding, and understand the conventions which are 
the leads, doubles, discards and echo. Knowledge of the 
rules and conventions of Auction, constant practice and 
using one's mind in observation and inference, are the 
things that go to the making of the Auction Bridge expert. 
The rules and conventions are simple, and can be master- 
ed in a few weeks, but learning to use one's mind, to locate 
the cards around the board, to correctly diagnose a situa- 
tion, to play the game for every trick in it, requires time 
and ability. All good Auction players realize the necessity 
of having the game standardized, and in this country the 
laws of the Whist Club of New York are regarded as offi- 
cial and no other code has any standing. It is considered 
unsportsmanlike to make bids which have double meaning 
and good players mark you from Podunk when you an- 
nounce that our club "back home" plays Imperial clubs, re- 
serves their bids, or bids a suit to invite a no trumper. 
Experts have worked out the present Auction laws, rules 
and conventions, and the leading card clubs in all our 
large social centers are using them, so discard local rules, 
and follow recognized conventions. 

Bear in mind that Auction is a partnership game, and 
that only by proper bidding and clever doubling can you 
give your partner information as to the character of your 
hand, so make your bid a sound one. It is much better to 
have your partner's confidence than to win an occasional 
game by a flighty, unsound bid. 

The goal, in Auction, is securing the game and the 
next important consideration is keeping opponents from 
going game. Alert players keep these points ever in mind. 



5 



OPEXIXG BID. 



Your opening bid should give exact information, as it 
is the foundation of all the bidding, and whether in suit 
or No Trump guarantees two "quick tricks," so do not make 
an original bid without high cards. 

Do not make an original suit bid without Ace. or King, 
Queen heading a five card suit, and a "quick trick" in a side 
suit. In this day and age if you make an original suit bid. 
your partner counts upon you for high cards in the suit 
you name and a sure trick in side suit as well. If you bid 
a suit headed by a King, you must have Queen also, unless 
you have enough in side suit to make up for the deficiency, 
so that your hand will count up to the minimum require- 
ment of at least two "quick tricks." 

Bid a strong Spade or Heart in preference to a Xo 
Trump, fcr though it takes one more trick to win the game, 
it is usually easier to win four tricks with a Trump than 
three with No Trump 

Bid No Trump always in preference to a Diamond or 
Club where there is a choice. Good players do Not bid a 
short suit as a No Trump invitation. The SAME length and 
strength is required for the bid of a minor suit as for a ma- 
jor. 

The minimum requisite for a bid in a four card suit 
is Ace, King. Queen, and small card, or King. Queen. Jack 
and small card, or any four honors in a suit, with of course 
a "quick trick" in side suit. 

As an initial bidder you may bid one with a trickless 
hand outside of the trump suit, if you hold Ace, King and 
three others. 

In choosing between two suits of equal strength bid 
the HIGHER one first. For instance bid one Spade first 
so that if over-bid you can then bid two Hearts, and ycur 
partner can then bid two Spades without increasing your 
contract, if he can better support that suit. 

When you bid after an original bid. you do not neces- 
sarily have the top cards of the suit for your bid. as it is 
more or less a defensive bid. You merely indicate a desire 
to play the hand with the suit named as trump, and you 
should bo able to figure out two "quick tricks" in the hand. 



6 



Partner must be cautious in raising a bid that has been 
called on the second round and not on the first, as it evi- 
dently is below the "quick trick" requirement and in the 
nature of a forced bid. 

When considering raising your own bid you must 
count out your losing cards, relying on your partner for 
but one trick unless he has raised your bid. 



LESSON NO, 2 

NO TRUMP BIDS. 

An original No Trump bid indicates general strength 
and three suits well stopped, and usually denies length, and 
strength in Spades and Hearts. 

As many players have difficulty in valuing their cards 
a method has been evolved of giving the honors in a 
suit an arbitrary value and of counting a hand to determine 
its valuation. This system is of particular value in curb- 
ing third and fourth hand original bids. 

TABLE OF CARD VALUATION. 

Ace counts 4 points or 1 "quick trick." 

King guarded counts 2 points or y 2 "quick trick." 

Queen twice guarded 1 point or H "quick trick." 

With two honors in sequence the lower takes the 
value of the higher. Namely: 

Ace King Queen counts 10 points or 2y 2 "quick tricks." 

Ace King Jack counts 9 points or 2% "quick tricks." 

Ace King counts 8 points or 2 "quick tricks." 

Ace Queen Jack counts 8 points or 2 "quick tricks." 

King Queen Jack counts 8 points or" 2 "quick tricks." 

Ace Queen Ten counts 6 points or iy 2 "quick tricks." 

Ace Jack Ten counts 6 points or iy 2 "quick tricks." 

King Queen Ten counts 6 points or iy 2 "quick tricks." 

Ace Queen x counts 5 points of 1*4 "quick tricks." 

King Queen counts 4 points or 1 "quick trick." 

A No Trump bid by dealer means general strength with 
at least eight points or two "quick tricks" distributed in 
three suits. 



7 



All good players make a strong distinction between a 
bid as dealer, and a bid third hand with two passes ahead 
of them, or fourth hand with three passes. 

Second Hand with dealer passing should have a hand 
counting eight in the table of card valuation in order to 
bid. A third hand original bid should count fourteen, 
fourth hand sixteen. 

Never start anything fourth hand unless with unusual 
strength. It is safer to wait for partner's deal, than to 
court disaster with a weak fourth hand bid. 

When short in the suit partner bids and strength in 
two other suits go to No Trump. 

A bid of more than one No Trump originally, is rarely 
advisable, as it shuts out a take-out from partner. With 
great general strength it is a distinct advantage to get a 
line on opponent's hands, so give them a chance to show 
their strength. However, with four Aces when one is 
singleton or has but one small card with it, most players 
bid two No Trump. 

To bid No Trump without an Ace one should have the 
equivalent of Aces in all suits. 



LESSON NO- 3 

PRE-EMPTIVE BIDS. 

A Pre-emptive bid or Shut-out bid is a bid of more 
than two made with a hand that insures game with aver- 
age support from partner, and is made for the purpose of 
shutting out an adverse bid so that a strong suit which 
may be ycur weakness, will not be disclosed. It is usually 
made in a major suit w th weakness in the other major, 
and indicates the full strength of the hand. It is gener- 
ally restricted to the original bid, and is made for the pur- 
pose of shutting out a game bid by opponents. With 
general strength a pre-emptive bid is neither necessary nor 
advisable, and after opponents have shown a suit a 
pre-emptive bid is not of much value. A bidder 
assumes a great responsibility in making a pre- 
emptive bid in a minor suit and his hand should have un- 



8 



usual strength to do it. Pre-emptive bids of less than five 
in a minor are seldom justified. 

An opening bid of three or more Spades or Hearts is 
often valuable because it prevents an adversary starting 
a bid which his partner is able to support, or it forces 
opponents to a contract which they cannot fulfill. 

To make an opening bid of two or more Spades or 
Hearts you should have the tricks in your hand, trusting 
your partner for but one trick, but a bid of two is rarely 
of any value as a "Shut-out Bid," as your adversaries will 
make every effort to overcall it; in fact I see little ad- 
vantage ever in an opening bid of two. 

SECOND HAND BIDS. 

Second Hand bids after a pass by dealer are consider- 
ed initial bids, but second hand bids after a bid by dealer 
should be given careful consideration. 

A No Trump bid over an original suit bid should have 
all the requirements of an initial No Trump, and the oppo- 
nents' declared suit stopped at least once, but if it be stop- 
ped but once, the hand should have at least four other 
"quick tricks." 

An over-bid of an adverse No Trump is justified only 
to direct the lead, and therefore only made by the fourth 
hand player. The best defense second hand against a No 
Trump is to pass. Clubs where Duplicate Auction is play- 
ed, report that their records prove that the average player 
loses ten times by bidding Second Hand over a No Trump, 
to every loss he makes by passing. By bidding two in a 
suit over a No Trump you may drive opponents to a game 
bid in a major suit, so lie low, and either defeat the No 
Trump contract or prevent them from going game. Never 
under ordinary conditions over-bid a No Trump second 
hand. Double first, if able, and then bid if necessary or ex- 
pedient on the second round, provided that you are able 
to defend game against any possible shift by opponent. 
The only exception we make to this rule is when holding a 
two suit hand i. e. a hand in which you have bids in two 
suits. 

A "two suit hand" is regarded as the strongest type 
of hand in Auction. Holding two suits of equal length, 

9 



both justifiable original bids, bid suit of higher value first 
regardless as a rule of greater top strength or of honors 
held in suit of lesser value. As between a major and minor 
suit, bid major suit first regardless as a rule of greater 
length, strength or honors held in the minor suit, always 
provided major suit is a justifiable original bid. 

THIRD AND FOURTH HAND BIDS. 

Third and fourth hand bids are not regarded as initial, 
but £/ound bidders are chary of bidding at that stage unless 
with unusual strength. It is better to pass the hand and 
wait for partner's deal unless you can see game with aver- 
age support from partner. 

One may bid fourth hand over a No Trump to direct 
the lead, but in order to do this one should have a good de- 
fensive suit with a re-entry card. 



LESSON NO- 4 

MAJOR SUIT TAKE-OUTS. 

No one question in Auction has caused as much argu- 
ment during the past year as the so-called take-outs. The 
best authorities have decided that to overcall partner's No 
Trump, one should have an original make in either of the 
major suits, any six cards in either major suit or a "two 
suit hand." With a singleton, however, or if entirely void 
of one suit, many players overcall partner with any five 
card major suit, but the general rule is. that a take-out in 
a major suit is with strength. 

MINOR SUIT TAKE -OUTS. 

The general rule is to overcall No Trump with a minor 
suit with weakness i. e.: a hand containing a six card or 
longer suit with nothing in it as good as a Queen, and 
therefore a hand worthless unless the suit is trump, for ex- 
ample: D, 10, 9, 8, xxxx*, H. x. C. J. x S. xxx. However, with 
a "two suit" or a hand good for eight tricks, with a certain 
suit as trump, for example: C. A. K. Q. xxxx. H. x. S. xx 

*-x moans s:nall card. 



10 



D. xxx, or D. A. K. J. 10, xxx. C. K. Q. 10, xx S. x, I would 
overcall partner's No Trump, bidding at least three, so 
that partner may be able to differentiate between it and a 
weak take-out. 

Take your partner out of a suit bid and go to No 
Trump, if you are short in the suit named, and have 
strength in two suits. 

WHEN PARTNER BIBS A MAJOR SL IT. 

Take-out with five cards with four honors in the other 
major suit or six cards with three high honors, or if hold- 
ing a singleton or void in a suit take-out with six with two 
high honors. 

Holding but one or two small cards in partner's suit, 
take-out with as good as defensive bid in the other major 
or with No Trump if lacking a major suit bid. 

When holding a long and strong minor suit without 
other assistance either for No Trump or for your partner's 
suit bid two in the minor suit, over partner's bid in a ma- 
jor suit. 



When you can count three sure tricks in your hand you 
have the basis of a supporting bid. Do not raise partner's 
bid with less, as he counts upon you for one trick in ex- 
cess of the average hand which is two tricks. 

Mr. W. C. Whitehead in his exhaustive analysis of 
thousands of hands has discovered that to determine the 
probable trick value of a hand in support of a No Trump 
bid, double its "quick trick" value. 

For Example: 

S. J. xx (Sufficient 

H. xxx for 

D. A. 10. 9.x (2) support) 



SUPPORTING BIBS. 



C. K. xx (1) 
OR 



S. Q. xx ( y 2 ) 
H. A. xx (2) 



(Good 



support) 



D. A. Q. xx (2V2) 



C. xxx 



11 



If partner's No Trump bid has been overcalled by a 
suit bid, you must have that suit stopped and a trick or 
two on the side to support the No Trump bid. 

In estimating the "Quick Trick" value of a suit hand, 
in support of a partner's bid, one must consider the num- 
ber of trumps held and the ability to ruff suits. Holding 
trumps and being void of a suit adds two tricks to the sup- 
porting value of a hand. A singleton adds one; an Ace 
two; a King, Queen, in one suit, two; a guarded King, one; 
a Queen, Jack and small card, one, and a guarded Queen 
of trumps, one. With five small trumps, if unable to ruff, 
add one. 

Do not advance partners suit bid with only two or a 
singleton in his suit, for if you have less than three trum: s 
one of the opponents is liable to have five. If however, 
partner raises his own bid without help you can then with 
two trumps and three tricks in side suit safely advance 
the bid if necessary. 



LESSON NO. 5 

DOUBLES. 

There are two classes of Doubles, Negative and Posi- 
tive. The Negative double is made for the purpose of con- 
veying information to the partner who is expected to over- 
bid. It is restricted to doubles of adverse bids of 
one at No Trump, one two or three at declared suit (made 
at the first opportunity) and to cases where partner has not- 
bid or doubled. 

NEGATIVE NO TRUMP DOUBLES. 

When bidder opens with No Trump and opponent also 
has a No Trump he doubles telling partner, "I have a hand 
with which I would have bid No Trump originally. I wish 
you to take me out by bidding two in your best suit or two 
No Trump as you prefer." The Negative Double is es- 
pecially advantageous when the doubler has strength in 
both major's, as the bidder then cannot make game by a 
shift. 



12 



NEGATIVE DECLARED SUIT DOUBLES. 



Doubling an initial suit bid of one or two or three tells 
partner, "I have a No Trump hand except for the suit bid." 
In many cases the doubler has but one stopper in the suit 
named, and is looking for further strength in that suit 
from partner before going to No Trump. A double should 
guarantee at least five tricks for partner's declaration. The 
partner of the doubler of a declared suit should bid No 
Trump if he has the declared suit safely stopped. If not, 
he must bid his long suit. 

POSITIVE DOUBLES. 

The positive double is a double of four or more in 
declared suit, or two or more No Trump and is made for 
the purpose of defeating and penalizing bidder. Any dou- 
ble of an adverse suit or No Trump bid where partner of 
doubler has already bid or doubled is invariably a positive 
double, meant to defeat bid doubled. 

Don't double opponents into game. Learn to dis- 
tinguish between free doubles and forced doubles. 

A free double is the double of a bid, which if success- 
ful undoubled would score game. For example: A double 
of four hearts is a free double, or a double of three dia- 
monds when the opponents score is nine or more. 

If partner of doubler has such strength that he is 
warranted in the presumption that opponents will be 
heavily penalized, he is justified in leaving in a negative 
double, but never with weakness. 

Weakness at no time justifies partner in leaving in a 
negative suit or No Trump double. Partner has absolutely 
no option. He must take-out regardless of the weakness of 
his hand. 

A forced double on the other hand, is a double which 
if unsuccessful would give the opponents a game they could 
not have scored except for the double. 

The partner of a bidder who has been doubled should 
not interfere or make a b'd unless with a hand that would 
warrant an original bid in the suit named. In the case of 
an intervening bid the partner of the doubler is under no 
obligation to respond to the double and should not bid un- 
less with great strength. 



13 



LESSON NO. 6 



OPENING LEAD AT DECLARED TRUMP. 

When your partner has bid, lead him the best card 
you have in his suit, unless 1 you have an Ace, King suit, or 
a long suit headed by an Ace, or an advantageous single- 
ton. It is unwise to lead a singleton of an adversary's 
suit, unless you hold the Ace, or doubly guarded King of 
trumps. 

If your partner has not bid, lead as follows: 
With Ace, King and others in a suit, lead King, then 
Ace. With Ace, King, Queen, with or without others, lead 
King, then Queen. The lead of a King tells your partner 
that you have with it in that suit either Ace or Queen, or 
both. Having shown him that you have the Ace by lead- 
ing the King and holding the trick, continue with the 
Queen so that you may further inform him. With Ace, 
King alone in a suit, lead Ace, then King. It tells your 
partner that you have no more of that suit. 

Lead Ace from a suit of four or more cards. Avoid 
leading short suits headed by the Ace, but if you have to 
lead that suit, lead the Ace, "Never lead low from an Ace" 
as an original opening in declared trump. 

A strong suit is more important than a long suit 
against a suit declaration, therefore a high card combina- 
tion is better to open than a long weak suit. 

Lead Queen from suits headed by Queen, Jack, 10. 
Queen, Jack, 9, or from Queen, Jack and small card. Queen, 
Jack, or Queen alone. The lead of a Queen shows nothing 
higher in the suit and is either the top of a sequence or a 
short suit. 

Lead Jack from King, Jack, 10. Jack, 10, 9. Jack, 10, 
Jack or Jack alone. The 10 is led as the top of a short suit. 

With none of the above combinations, lead the fourth 
best card of your longest suit. 

Avoid leading from tenaces such as suits headed by 
Ace, Queen, or Ace, Jack, or King, Jack. It is more ad- 
vantageous to have such suits led to you. 



14 



ELEVEN RULE. 



When your partner leads his fourth best card (any 
card below the ten) subtract the spots on it from eleven 
The remainder is the number of cards, higher than the one 
led, which are not in leader's hand. 

OPENING LEAD AT NO TRUMP. 

If your partner has bid a suit, lead it in preference to 
your own, unless you have a solid suit or hold a singleton 
in your partner's suit. 

It is usually better to lead partner's suit even if No. 
Trump has been bid over him, otherwise you may take out 
his possible re-entry while his suit is still unestablished. 

If your partner has bid two suits, lead the one in 
which you can render the greatest assistance. 

Lead your partner the best card you have in his suit 
regardless 1 of number, and follow with the next best; this 
has been found to give better results with the majority of 
players than the so-called "number showing leads." 

If you have an Ace, King, Jack suit, always show it 
by leading the King before giving your partner his suit. 

If your partner has made no bid, lead as follows: 

Lead usually your longest suit, even though it con- 
tains a tenace; the odds are against the success of a short 
suit opening at No Trump. 

Lead an honor when holding three honors in the suit, 
two of them in sequence and usually the higher of the se- 
quence. 

When you have less than three honors in your suit, 
lead the fourth best card, unless you have seven or more 
cards headed by two high honors in sequence, then lead an 
honor. 

An honor led at No Trump indicates three honors or 
extreme length in the suit. 

Lead Ace from Ace, Queen, Jack and others, with a re- 
entry card. Ace, Queen and five others with a re-entry. 
Ace, King, Jack and three or more others. The lead of an 
Ace at No Trump calls for your partner to play his high- 
est card in the suit. 



15 



Lead King from Ace, King, Queen and others, Ace, 
King, Jack and others (unless with extreme length when 
the Ace is led) with a re-entry card; Ace, King and five 
or more, others: King, Queen, Jack and others; King, 
Queen, ten and others. King, Queen and five others with 
re-entry. 

Lead Queen from Queen, Jack, ten and others. Queen, 
Jack, nine and others, or Ace, Queen. Jack and others with 
no card of re-entry. 

Lead Jack from King, Jack, ten and others; Ace, Jack, 
ten and others, or Jack, ten. nine and others. 

Lead Ten from Ten, nine, eight and others at Xo Trump 
hold the comand of your opponent's suit until the third 
round. 

Lead fourth best from all other combinations. 
At No Trump hold the command of your opponent's 
suit until the third round. 



LESSON NO. 7 

SECOND HAND PLAYS. 

Cover an honor led when holding two or three in the 
suit. Stay off with four. With K. and one, stay off in de- 
clared trump, go up in Xo Trump. 

ECHO. 

The play of a high and then a low card constitutes an 
Echo, and asks for a continuation of that suit. Exper- 
ienced players do not limit its meaning to "I can ruff the 
third round," it simply asks a continuation of the suit. 
It may be used in Xo Trump or Declared Trump, and eith- 
er on opponents or partner's lead, but it is of 
more value when partner is leading. Watch par- 
ticularly if you are leading winners as any 
card over the six is considered an encouraging 
card. The play of the Deuce, or of any card which the 
partner can read as being of necessity the lowest, tells 
him that either the card is a singleton or that the player 
is not beginning a signal. 



16 



In many cases one can keep opponents from making 
game by leading two Aces and watching the size of the 
card partners plays, continuing the suit in which he gives 
you an encouraging card. 

DISCARDS. 

Discard from weakness if possible, or reverse in long 
suit when unable to do so. A signal in a discard to show 
strength shortens the strong suit and is unnecessary when 
it is possible to discard once from each of the other suits, 
which by inference gives the same information. Immed- 
iate information may also be given when the first discard 
is as high as a seven or eight, and the partner can read from 
the general composition of his hand and Dummy, that 
the discarder must hold a lower card in that suit. 

GENERAL SUGGESTIONS. 

Don't allow opponents to make one discard that may 
prove detrimental to your hand, if you can stop it. 

Don't be afraid to lead thru the strong high cards in 
Dummy. Remember that all good players lead through 
strength and up to weakness. 

Do not hesitate during the play of a hand, as by so 
doing one often conveys unfair information. When 
Dummy comes down is the time to do your thinking and 
map your campaign. 

Consider adverse bids in making your finesses. De- 
clarer should not take a finesse which if it succeeds wins 
one or more tricks without making game but which if it 
fails loses contract. With the contract safe you should 
however finesse to make game. 

The rule not to finesse with nine cards in the two 
hands applies only to a finesse of A. K. J. . Holding an A. 
Q. suit one should finesse, unless holding ten or more cards 
in the two hands. 

When opponent has won the bid with a suit bid, force 
the declar's strong hand, make him use his trumps when- 
ever possible. 

At No Trump postpone as long as possible leading a 
suit of seven cards (in two hands) containing A. K. Q. but 



17 



not Jack (four in one hand three in the other.) You warn 
opponents not to discard from that suit so it is better to 
open a longer weaker suit while you have your re-entry 
cards. 

With sufficient trump strength in Dummy to exhaust 
trump and still retain trumps in Dummy, lead trump first 
then ruff when you have taken opponents trumps. 

When Declarer is playing No Trump, block Dummy 
if possible, to prevent his making a suit without re-entry. 

In No Trump or with the trumps exhausted it is un- 
wise to discard a singleton or too many cards of a weak 
suit. Disclosing your weakness gives opponents a chance 
to finesse against your partner. 

Never lead a suit which gives opponents the opportun- 
ity to trump with one hand and discard from the other. 

Do not false card, unless playing Dummy. False cards 
and every other deceptive method may be used then. 

Don't double the opponents bid if you can go game in 
your own suit, unless sure of winning at least 2 00 points, 
and if it is the rubber game ? don't double unless absolutely 
sure of at least 3 00 points. Win the game and rubber. 

In playing a hand be careful not to block your long 
suit. Ruff out your losers in Dummy before extracting his 
trumps, unless he is long in trumps. 

Always save the game before you try to defeat the 
opponents contract. 

AVhen partner has made a bid over opponents original 
declaration do not let Dummy in to lead thru your part- 
ner's strength. Play to force opponent to lead up to your 
partner. 

Always take a trick as cheaply as possible, and holding 
a sequence, take the trick with the lowest of the sequence. 

Never lead low from an Ace as an original opening 
at declared trump. 

When partner has bid one in No Trump or in a Major 
Suit, and you hold a very strong hand, it is advisable to ad- 
vance the bid to two or three. 

It has been said that the unforgiveable offense at auc- 
tion, is permitting an opponent's weak hand to make a 
trump. It is generally wise to lead trump when declarer 
does not. 



1 S 



High scores piled up usually mean poor judgment, bad 
bidding on somebody's part, and the best playing in the 
world cannot overcome "gift /" handed out by the fool 
bidder. 

Remember that weak fourth hand original bids have 
been well named "Idiot's Delight." 



LESSON NO. 8 

AUCTION LAWS MOST FREQUENTLY 
TRANSGRESSED. 

A card touched in Dummy must be played. 

If bidder calls the wrong number of tricks to over- 
bid previous bid he bars partner from bidding unless oppo- 
nents increase the bid or double. 

Declarer revoking loses fifty honors for each revoke. 
Opponents lose two tricks or fifty as Declarer elects and 
fifty for each succeeding revoke. Revokers can only score 
honors. Dummy can call a revoke unless he has looked at 
opponents hands. Dummy may ask partner if he has any 
of the suit refused. Dummy may not however warn part- 
ner that he is leading from the wrong hand. 

The player who looks at quitted tricks or at cards dur- 
ing the deal is penalized 25 in the honor column for each 
offense. 

Should Declarer say, "I claim the rest," or any words 
claiming the remaining tricks, he may not take a finesse 
not previously proven a winner unless he announces it 
when making the claim. 

Declarer and Dummy hands are not subject to call of 
exposed cards. 

After a card has been exposed by opponent it must 
be left face upward on table. Declarer may call it, i. e.: 
require its owner to lead or play it at any time when it is 
owner's turn to lead or play. except when the playing of the 
card would cause owner to revoke. 

There must be a new deal, if during the play of the 
hand it be discovered that one player holds more than 
thirteen cards, or if any card be found faced in the pack 
or be exposed on, above or below the table. 



19 



If either adversary of the Declarer lead out of turn 
the Declarer may either treat the cards so led as exposed 
and subject to call, or may call a suit as soon as it is the 
turn of either adversary to lead. Should they lead simul- 
taneously, the lead from the proper hand stands, and the 
other card is exposed and subject to call. 

Should Dummy by touching a card or otherwise sug- 
gest a play by Declarer, either adversary may require De- 
clarer to make such play (if legal) or to refrain from mak- 
ing it. 

AUCTION ETIQUETTE. 

To indicate by word, gesture or manner one's approval 
or disapproval of a bid, play or double is conveying im- 
proper information as to the character of your hand and is 
a more serious offense than the transgression of a law. 
In the latter case the offender is subject to a penalty, while 
in the former, one has no redress unless to ostracise the 
offender. For the same reason bids should be made in a 
simple manner and without emphasis. 

A player having a lead should not draw a second card 
from the hand until his partner has played to the first. 
Such an act being a distinct intimation that the card is 
high. 

A player who has looked at his cards has no right to 
call partner's attention to the score. 

A card should not be played with such emphasis as 
to draw attention to it. Nor should a player detach one 
card from his hand and subsequently play another. 

A player who desires the cards to be placed should do 
so for his own information not in order to call his partners 
attention to it. 

The Dummy should not look over opponents' hands 
nor leave his seat to watch partner's play. 

If Declarer says', "I have the rest," or any words indi- 
cating that the remaining tricks are his and an adversary 
exposes his cards, Declarer should not allow such informa- 
tion so obtained to influence his play. 



20 



Card Sense and Card Nonsense 



BY SIDNEY S. LENZ. 



There is no question but that playing cards and the 
games played with them amuse and interest more people 
in the world than anything else. Almost everybody pliays 
cards in some form or other, and whatever game is indulg- 
ed in, each coterie of devotees are composed of good, bad 
and indifferent players. If, after a certain period the bad 
player does not improve his game, he is further discouraged 
and appreciably disheartened by being told that he has no 
"card-sense." 

This lack of card-sense is apparently an impassible 
barrier that it is useless to batter one's brains against, 
even admitting that brains might be possessed by a non- 
card-sensist. 

Is it really a fact that the five senses we have so long 
and familiarly called by their first names should be aug- 
mented with this step-brother of modernity — a sixth sense? 
I do not think so! Any normal person who really wishes 
to play cards well can learn to do so. 

It is admittedly more difficult for some than for 
others, but practice and application will do wonders for 
the worst drib of a player. 

The greatest fault of the "nonsenser" is carelessness, 
and the consequent lack of concentrating power to note 
each card as it is played. Who has not heard this wail of 
distress after a few cards have been played. "I can't re- 
member if the Queen is good?" Or, "I can't remember 
my partner's lead!" Surely the thinking person must see 
that this is not a matter of memory, but of attention. It 
is utterly impossible to forget in less than a minute's time 
that the Ace and King have come and gone, and the Queen 
is the ranking card. 

Attention is the father of memory, and to forget what 
one never knew is an absurdity. This, then is the fault of 
the poor player. Not lack of card-sense, but lack of con- 



21 



centration, and ability to note what is taking place. To 
go back a step farther, it 's the player who is not overly 
interested in the game who is forgetful. A strong desire 
to do a thing well must necessarily create an interest, 
which, when stimulated, keeps the mind glued on the bus- 
iness at hand, be it cards, golf, or skinning a red herring. 

Thinking of the stock market, or visualizing a new 
bonnet is not conducive to the best results towards remem- 
bering cards as they fall. A player who earnestly wants to 
improve his game must force himself to eliminate from 
his thoughts all matters foreign to the immediate subject. 

A critic who has no remedy to offer had better hold 
his peace, so I offer a suggestion that should do more to 
help players acquire "card-sense" than all the professors 
in cardology. As each card is played, the student should 
name that card, preferably mentally; thereby establishing 
the assurance that at least the card has been noted. It will 
surprise one how quickly this procedure will help the mem- 
ory. 

The writer by aid of this system has been able to 
name the entire fifty-two cards as played in a whist hand, 
and any number of experts recall hands that have been 
played years ago at card tournaments. These hands were 
repeated at the time of happening, and remained so fixed 
in the mind that no effort of memory is required to call 
them off. 

After all, the essential requirement for bettering one's 
card game is the sincere desire to play well. 

The player who joins in the game in a lackadaisical 
way because there is nothing better to do, will find that 
it is difficult to do well what he is not interested in. 

"Card-sense," then is not so much an indefinable mys- 
tical emanation of the brain, as a mundane, material study 
that requires first a desire to learn and second, the power 
to note and apply. 

Our conclusions as to what we see or hear are always 
founded on a combination of observation and inference. 
So, the player who meekly accepts the judgment of his 
friends that he has no "card-sense" should ask himself in 
all seriousness, "Why say 'card'?" As when a girl passes 
a mirror — it is time to pause and reflect. 



22 



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